Our team is led by UW faculty and staff with a demonstrated commitment to community-engaged research and advancing environmental justice in our region.
To get in touch with any of our team members, contact us at cehe@uw.edu or 206-543-0608
Edmund Seto, MS, PhD (he/him)
Co-Director
Languages spoken: English, Cantonese Chinese (conversational) Edmund is a professor in the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences in the UW School of Public Health. His research group develops and applies novel technologies — sensors, devices, wearables, apps, models and mapping and measurement approaches — to environmental health challenges. Many of the group’s current projects involve community-engaged research. At CEHE, he works with the other directors and the center’s advisers to identify and implement technical assistance services that meet the environmental and energy justice needs of the region.
Esther Min, MPH, PhD (she/her)
Co-Director
Favorite place in the Northwest: Lake Crescent; I love to sit and enjoy tranquility and the magnificence of the lake with the surrounding mountains, with the clear water and rocks at my feet. Languages spoken: English, Korean (fluent) Esther is a clinical faculty member at DEOHS. At CEHE and outside of the center, her focus is to make sure the voice of BIPOC and frontline communities and organizations are elevated, and their priorities and goals of environmental justice are supported by academic researchers and practitioners. She enjoys building environmental justice tools, as directed by community, with community. One of her favorite things to do is to harvest chestnuts with her family in the fall (it can get competitive!).
Alison Hirata, MEd (she/her)
Outreach Manager
Favorite place in the Northwest region: Seven Lakes Basin on the Olympic Peninsula Languages spoken: English, Japanese (super beginner) Alison has spent most of her career in education, as both a teacher and curriculum developer. Her passion is the intersection of education and tribal/environmental issues which has led her to some interesting career experiences including creating a tribally specific Native plant curriculum and serving as a Subject Matter Expert for a Crash Course series on Native American history and issues. As a descendant of the Karuk tribe, she feels a personal responsibility to care for the earth and promote Traditional Ecological Knowledge as a creative and effective way to transform the climate crisis. When not at work, she loves spending time with her family outside.
Kevin Darole (he/him)
Program Coordinator
Favorite place in the Northwest: Mount St. Helens Languages spoken: English Kevin is the program coordinator for UW CEHE and is our master of all things meetings and technical support. He is a fan of bubble tea, corgis and K-pop.
Original Founding Team Members
- Clarita Lefthand-Begay, MS, PhD (she/her) served as the Deputy Director and Director of Relations with Tribal Nations, Communities and Organizations
- Elena Austin, ScD (she/her) served as Director of Data Equity
- Nicole Errett, MPSH, PhD (she/her) served as Director for Outreach and Engagement with Public Health Practitioners
- Stephanie A. Farquhar, MA, PhD (she/her) served as Co-Investigator and Lead Evaluator
- Leah Wood, MPH, MPA (she/her) served as Community Outreach Manager
- Jeff Shirai, MS (he/him) served as Student Coordinator
- Juliette Randazza, MPH, MPA (she/her) served as Research Coordinator
- Cristina Urrutia (she/her) served as Center Manager